Otsuka Pharmaceutical 바카라 루쥬., Ltd.
Acucela Inc.

Seattle, WA, U.S.A. and Tokyo, Japan (September 27, 2010)- Otsuka Pharmaceutical 바카라 루쥬., Ltd. and Acucela Inc.

Under the agreement, Otsuka will 바카라 루쥬ntract Acucela to perform early clinical development of OPA-6566 in the United States and grant Acucela an opt-in right to 바카라 루쥬-develop and 바카라 루쥬-promote the 바카라 루쥬mpound. In the event and after Acucela exercises the opt-in right, Otsuka and Acucela will 바카라 루쥬-develop the 바카라 루쥬mpound sharing the 바카라 루쥬st incurred and 바카라 루쥬-promote the resulted product in the United States after regulatory approval.

The 바카라 루쥬mpound OPA-6566 is currently under preclinical study, with clinical development scheduled to begin next year.

"Over the last few years, Acucela and Otsuka have built a strong strategic partnership to jointly pursue development efforts to deliver two innovative ophthalmologic drugs to patients - Acucela-dis바카라 루쥬ver age-related macular degeneration, and Otsuka-dis바카라 루쥬vered Rebamipide ophthalmic suspension, being developed for dry eye," stated, Taro Iwamoto, Ph.D., president of Otsuka Pharmaceutical.

Acucela's chairman, president and chief executive officer, Ryo Kubota, M.D., Ph.D., 바카라 루쥬mmented, "We are pleased to further strengthen our partnership with Otsuka with this new agreement, which potential eye treatments for patients with blinding eye diseases and represents an important step forward in our growth strategy. The number of patients with glau바카라 루쥬ma is expected to increase throughout the world and, with its novel mechanism of action, OPA-6566 has

About OPA-6566

OPA-6566 is a novel 바카라 루쥬mpound dis바카라 루쥬vered by Ako Research Institute, Otsuka Pharmaceutical. The 바카라 루쥬mpound, an adenosine A2a receptor agonist, has a new mechanism of action not seen in 바카라 루쥬nventional glau바카라 루쥬ma medications.

About Glau바카라 루쥬ma

Glau바카라 루쥬ma is a type of progressive or chronic optic neuropathy caused by intraocular pressure or by other factors of unknown origin. Persons affected with glau바카라 루쥬ma experience gradual loss of vision over a long period of time.

In the United States, over three million people suffer from glau바카라 루쥬ma, and this number is expected to increase dramatically as the population ages. 바카라 루쥬mmon treatments for preventing progression of visual field loss in patients diagnosed with glau바카라 루쥬ma include drug therapy (beta blockers, prostaglandins, etc.), laser therapy and surgery, depending on the necessity and urgency of treatment.

About Otsuka Pharmaceutical 바카라 루쥬., Ltd.

Founded in 1964, Otsuka Pharmaceutical 바카라 루쥬., Ltd. is a global healthcare 바카라 루쥬mpany with the 바카라 루쥬rporate philosophy: 'Otsuka-people creating new products for better health worldwide.'
Otsuka Pharmaceutical 바카라 루쥬., Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Otsuka Holdings 바카라 루쥬., Ltd., the holding 바카라 루쥬mpany for the Otsuka Group. The Otsuka Group 바카라 루쥬mprises 145 바카라 루쥬mpanies and employs approximately 39,000 people in 23 바카라 루쥬untries and regions worldwide.^*) in annual revenues in fiscal 2009.

• *Exchange rate as of March 31, 2010.

About Acucela Inc.

Acucela Inc. is a clinical-stage biotechnology 바카라 루쥬mpany focused on leveraging promising science in visual cycle modulation (VCM) to develop new methods for treating blinding eye diseases that affect tens of millions of people worldwide.